The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-29
COMMENCEMENT SERMON.
CHARLEsToN's GREAT BAPTIST PREACH
ERAT DUE WEST.


ER AT DUE WEST.
Thought. Suggestions anh Encidcnt:
About ihc Annual Festival OF E.et
IcrS iu the Classic Groves of hb
! bcyitEc'. Athens.
| Due WEST, =. G.. June %, 1887.
We are now in the midst Of the annua
commencement festivities. The quiet ant
calm rcposc of the lovely little village has
been disi uIhcn. inc usually @ SLOW ana 1 meas as
to brisk and animate walk as IL something
of importance had to be transacted. And
what Gun bc of more consequence than live
ly interest i'm these noble institutions o
! learning? For what Is TO he more highly
priced than ;n educational thorough, prac
lical education, just such as can be had Dy
attending these collrgcS-a heritage That can
not he taken from us, even should war Will
its blond and suffering. or cyclones with their
destruction, or earthquakes with their fCaI
and trembling surround and ovcrwhelm our
physical frames, an education Of both head
and heart will withstand all these dreaded
calamites. and, like the good part" as chos
Ell by Mary of Old, will remain to cheer us
down To tho verge of the grave.
| IT is with this feeling Of pride that so many
| from distance are to he seen vending tEcii
way to our quiet country town to participate
| in the festivities consequent upon The closing
exercises of The colleges. For years and years
this same scene has been enacted, the crowds
becoming larger and more apprccative us
each succeeding commencement cycle is com
pleted. Due West has led the van for thirty
years. and now we see that OF hers are folio
| ing her example. and that similar occasions
| in other institutions are being attended with
something of like success.
| Every train brings gOodly number of Wis
itorS, and even last the town was full of Wis
IturS, on examining committees, and parents
and guardians, and friends of the institutions
and relatives OF citizens, young and old
great and small.
The examinations in both institutions have
been thorough and searching, and the young
ladies and gentlemen have gone through the
the trying ordeal and come out victors Hard
study and close application to the duties de-
volving upon them have had their reward,
and each one is happy, and ready to enjoy to
the fullest the pleasures in store.
| On Thursday evening the Amclian Literary
Society of the Female College had their final
session for the collegiate year. The medals
from the society were presented by Prof. j" T.
Kennedy, as follows: Junior Class, best de
batter, Miss Annie Chapman: Sophomore
Glass, best essayist, Miss Lucia Reid and Miss
| Laura Grier; First Glass, best extract reader
| Miss Carrie Sullivan. 4 splendid banquet
was served at which each one present had an
abundance, and good cheer was the order oi
| the evening.
Friday evening the reception by the teach
ers and young ladies Of the same institution
was attended by n large aSsemblagc of youth
beauty, grace and manlincss, and the occa-
sion attracted many from our sister towns
and villages. The tap of the bell was the sig
nal for dispensing and 1t sounded like death
leave those we love. A more pleasant recep'
ton has never beed held in Due West
Sabbath morning dawned upon us as bright
and beautiful as we could desire. The hour
Of II had been fixed upon as the time for de-
| livering the Baccalaureate sermon before the
graduating classes, by the Rev. Charles y.
Stakeley, Of Charleston. But the eager peo
| pie did not wait longer than O'Clock to be.
| -
friends from the country. and even some from
Anderson, Honea Path, Abbevillc, and other
extreme points Of the county had assembled,
and through the aid of kind ushers every one
dlous Associate Reformed Presbyterian
with the Rev c. B. Belts and The pastor
walked out upon the pulpit platform, silence;
upon the speaker. The well-trained choir
sang a beautiful anthem, and after prayer
and the reading OF some portions OF scripture
discourse: "The supcrlativc beauty Of Christ. v
| founded upon Isaiah SO: II. "Thlne eyes shall
see the king In his beauty" The speaker
that he was perfect in every respect; but that
no description Of his personal appearance had
been given, and any attempt to describe him
would be commonplace; 1t Is our duty tC
embodiment OF, all goodness and greatness;
one altogether lovely; other Kingdoms had
been set up by force, but Jesus on love; his
is a kingdom OF spirituality and truth
cular salvation he brought was the great
est attraction of the Savour-he died for the
ungodly. He did all that mercy could ask or
justice demand; Precipitation for our sins
exhorting us to follow him and embrace the
salvation. lie taught. The effects of his rclis
ion were formative-ho was character
maker, he elevated and perfected character
The effect on the world was to be seen in man
fold ways Darkness and ignorance had
waned before this religion, institutions O.
learning had been established, laws and Gus.
toms changed, woman elevated, and the land
dotted with churches. 1t was kindness that
we could not see him now, but We could see
him hereafter, face to lace. The many pic
lures of what heaven is, are imperfect-bu
| heaven consists of seeing Him face to face
and enjoying His society.
| But it is impossible in Il brief outline to dc
the speaker Justice. The sermon was all thai
could be desired-in matter and in manner o
delivery There were no attempts at oratory
or clOqucncC. for the very plain and distinct
cnunciation and earneStness OF delivery wcrt
eloqucnce and oratory personihcd. 1t is con
ceded that no better. sermon has been
people expected much and they were not dis
appointed.
In the afternoon tho same speaker occu
pied the pulpit in the Baptist church anC
preached n powerful sermon on the Office and
work OF the Holy Spirit from the latter part
of Zackariah C, "Not by might, nor by
power; but by my spirit. saith the Lord o
hosts" The house was full and the atten
tion perfect, and the sermon was fully up
and by some thought to be superior to tho
one of the morning. The peroration is
thought by many to have been one OF the
grandest pieces Of oratory ever heard in this
Section. Profound, original thought in raj
mcnt of most touching and beautiful Ian
guage, 1T carried q spirit of feeling thai
! touched and thrilled the entire congregation
The singing in both churches could scarcely
have been Improved The weather was fine
| the occasion rare, the enjoyment immense.
In the afternoon the pulpit of the Associate
Reformed Presbyterian church was occupied
by Rev J. s. Moffatt, Of Chester, $. G. Tho
subject discussed was; The Power Of the Cos
preacher was: az am not ashamed of the gOs
| pei of Christ; for 1t is the power of God unto
| salvation to every one that believeth.'
| Romans /: l6.
I Monday Evening.
| "'Tis evening n0w-the heats and cares Of day,
In twilight's dews are calmly swept away;
| The writer now, beneath yOn evening star,
| Signs through the medium of his sweet cigar"
and in heavy mood Of meditation wends hi:
way to the halls of Euphemia and Philoma
! thea. These two literary societies, where the
youthful orator displays his rhetoric and airs
| his cloquence pcrfccts his logic and makes
| tirmcr a basis upon which is to rest his life
are rivals of equal merit in social standing
and general excellence. These are cSscntia
| ndjunctS to ErsIlnc College and do honor tC
that institution to whose great flow Of learn
ing they contribute so consplcuously.
PhiIomathean Society.
The Philomathean Hall at an early houi
was filled to its utmost with an audience o.
beauty, culture and refinement, with thai
man OF years and letters so we'll known anC
so universally admired, Prof j. p. Kennedy